What Patriot made the biggest improvement this year

[SalemPats]

1. Hightower - Last year he looked lost. He seemed stiff in coverage and his tackling was just ok. This year with a better secondary and a bigger role he blossomed into a LB who should have made the pro-bowl. Very smart pass rusher, great against the run and looked faster
2. Stork - wathcing him progress into a very good C was fun to watch
3. Wendell - He moved positions and started slowly. He got better at the right time
4. Collins - I put him at 4 only because in the playoffs last year he broke out and looked like a star. He was our defensive MVP this year (or at least co-mvp with Revis).
5. Patrick Chung - We brought him back after being cut. The knock on him was that he was not a smart player. He played aggressive this year and made some great plays

 

[patsinthesnow]

Collins went from like a 76 to a 90 in Madden this year. Could be a 95-99 type player by the end of next season. I think he's the obvious choice.

 

[ausbacker]

Edelman. He's a legitimate #1 quality WR in the NFL now.

The amount of times the Patriots went to Edelman and he made the play that needed to be made this season impressed me.

 

[zipster9]

I just hope BillB goes "ALL IN" for 2015 season. Whatever it costs to get to super bowl and WIN.

Super Bowl 50. 5th SB ring for the Patriots.

Get this done.

 

[brdmaverick]

If we deem a player who was not on the Pats last year as 'eligible' for this award I would have to go with Patrick Chung. If you look at the some of the training camp threads, some would start posts of "will Chung make the team?" followed by many repsonses sharing the sentiment of 'please NO!!!!!!!!!!"

But here we are now, Chung has been an effective and viable starter for the World Champions.

To be fair, I think MOST of this improvement has to be the improved play around him. Sort of like a guy's stock shooting through the roof as soon as a gorgeous lady is on his arm. But given the criteria I'd say he is the most improved.

 

[brdmaverick]

1. Hightower - Last year he looked lost. He seemed stiff in coverage and his tackling was just ok. This year with a better secondary and a bigger role he blossomed into a LB who should have made the pro-bowl. Very smart pass rusher, great against the run and looked faster

I responded prior to reading anyone's posts on this topic. I think Hightower is a very good choice for this award. I would not be able to argue Chung over Hightower.

 

[Ross12]

Probably Hightower strictly from a last year to this year perspective. Collins would be the winner without his impressive postseason last year, though.

I also think Wendell deserves a lot of credit just because damn near everyone wanted to dump his ass, only for him to come on as a pretty good guard.

 

[ashley]

Collins I think turned himself into an all pro type of player. I also think that Hightower played incredible as well once Mayo went down. Connolly was an unsung hero as we all saw what happened when he was out of the line up.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

collins or hightower...but honorable mention? Chung? man he got so much better 2nd time around

 

[Fencer]

Amendola and Harmon could be in the discussion.

 

[supafly]

I just hope BillB goes "ALL IN" for 2015 season. Whatever it costs to get to super bowl and WIN.

Super Bowl 50. 5th SB ring for the Patriots.

Get this done.

You aren't happy with the way they've handled the past 5 seasons? You think they need to change their philosophy and do "whatever it costs, and go 'all in?' "



2010--14-2 record + HFA

2011--SB appearance

2012--AFCCG appearance

2013--AFCCG appearance

2014--SB victory

 

[supafly]

Amendola and Harmon could be in the discussion.

Duron Harmon really stood out to you in a way that you'd put him in the discussion for the most improved player on the 2014 Patriots team?

 

[hwc]

I gotta go with Malcolm Butler. From walk-on tryout out of of West Alabama to making shut-down corner plays to win the Superbowl. I'd say that's pretty impressive improvement....

 

[Fencer]

Duron Harmon really stood out to you in a way that you'd put him in the discussion for the most improved player on the 2014 Patriots team?

Well, he made one big play.

But you're right; there wasn't as much difference in him from last year as there was in Collins or Hightower.

 

[supafly]

Well, he made one big play.

But you're right; there wasn't as much difference in him from last year as there was in Collins or Hightower.

It certainly was a BIG play, no doubt about it.

I just wondered if there was something that I didn't see, in terms of his progress and development. In my opinion, we can't really take much from his first 2 yrs yet.

 

[patsfan-1982]

the biggest improvement from last year is by far Tom Brady maybe the best playoff run he has ever had two double digit come from behind wins in the 4th QT of the playoffs and 8 more TD's and 2 less INT's from last season,

if we are talking biggest improvement in there career so far its Collins from a raw talent rookie into a Patrick willis type player in just his 2th year

 

[meatface]

I gotta go with Malcolm Butler. From walk-on tryout out of of West Alabama to making shut-down corner plays to win the Superbowl. I'd say that's pretty impressive improvement....

He did play well but I don't think I would call him shut down. Still though to even make the team is extremely impressive considering that everyone thought he was just a camp body.

 

[meatface]

I gotta go with Malcolm Butler. From walk-on tryout out of of West Alabama to making shut-down corner plays to win the Superbowl. I'd say that's pretty impressive improvement....

He did play well but I don't think I would call him shut down. Still though to even make the team is extremely impressive considering that everyone thought he was just a camp body.

 

[Fencer]

It certainly was a BIG play, no doubt about it.

I just wondered if there was something that I didn't see, in terms of his progress and development. In my opinion, we can't really take much from his first 2 yrs yet.

The fact that McCourty is used for roles other than deep safety, with Harmon filling his spot, gives me some good feelings about (the coaching staff's feelings for) him.

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

Leadership and mental toughness across the board - some great comebacks and lots of close games just like in the early Brady years. For such a young team, they played with a strong veteran heart. Some of the credit should go to the Captains who must have really matured as leaders this season.